Stuck on how to reduce the size of my PCB

[sotpotatis]

Hi, I’m just doing the initial placement on my board, so before you read any further, please note:

• The capacitors are going to be changed to SMD capacitors

I am getting stuck in the placement process. I am still very much a beginner.

The board is becoming somewhat larger than what I anticipated, currently it measures about 13cmx6cm. As there is not much clearance around the microcontroller it will probably be even bigger.

I suspect that when I start routing the size is going to increase even further. Goal: I would like the board size to be at most 10cmx6.5cm.

Maybe this sketch will help visualize what I am trying to build:

The main problem is that due to my design, I want the buttons and LEDs centered on the board.
Therefore, any spacing from components I add to one of the board edges will have to be added to the other edge.
I want to keep this layout overall - buttons under LEDs, LEDs and buttons on rows, D13-15 and buzzer somewhere on top of the PCB.

Even I did not flip the components around yet, I plan on having basically only BZ1, RV1, D1-15 and SW1-5 visible on the front of the board.
A user will interact directly with the PCB, it will not be in a case.

I have tried two alternatives of placement but both of them gives the previously mentioned board size of 13cmx6cm:

Any ideas what I can try to reduce the space further?

Schematics if anyone is interested;

[sotpotatis]

And yes this is a third alternative in how to place it, forgot to mention in the OP.

This reduces the board size but instead the board becomes square. Call me picky but I would rather have it be rectangular as in the sketch I posted in the OP.
I can live with it but it puts power very far away from the microcontroller. While I will be using power and ground planes this makes me concerned about noise.

[halachal]

Worry only about things that actually matter

[sotpotatis]

Sorry I don’t follow what you mean.
Are you telling me that this worry is not justified:

@sotpotatis

While I will be using power and ground planes this makes me concerned about noise.

Or is it anything else that you wanted to imply?

[halachal]

That’s one.

For another, why do you care about the size of the PCB.

If you have mechanical constraints for the placement of buttons and indicators, those drive the shape of the board.

If you want it denser, stop using through hole parts.

[RaptorUK]

@sotpotatis

Any ideas what I can try to reduce the space further?

Are you asking about the board outline on the Edge.Cuts layer . . . that would be a KiCad question.

If that’s not what you are asking about then what is your KiCad question for this KiCad forum ?

[sotpotatis]

@halachal

For another, why do you care about the size of the PCB.

It’s supposed to be a portable timer that I will be carrying around.

@RaptorUK

Are you asking about the board outline on the Edge.Cuts layer . . . that would be a KiCad question.

If that’s not what you are asking about then what is your KiCad question for this KiCad forum ?

Sorry if this question is out of scope for this forum, I thought I could ask for help with my projects here too. I will move elsewhere if that is not the case.

[Piotr]

@sotpotatis

I will move elsewhere if that is not the case.

You generally should move elsewhere with such kind of questions.

I don’t understand why you left so huge amount of unused space between footprints if you want the PCB to be smaller. For me the courtyard rectangle is the space I should left for each footprint and just out of this rectangle I can use space for anything else. I am positioning footprints very close one to the other. In many cases with their courtyard rectangles touching.
See:

Creating my first footprint: questions as a beginner

I’m trying to stick to that but as Kicad is not allowing me to have 1 symbol mapped to 2 footprints, You don’t understand. If your element has two connectors but not at cables but at its PCB then they both are ‘one insertion’ so one footprint. I started to assemble SMD myself around 1992 and till now I don’t have microscope. When I started to have to use glasses for reading I have bought a workshop lamp with magnifying glass. I have no space at desk for station so I use: Not needed. I…

Consider using 0805 or even 0603 LEDs.

[Paul.Blitz]

Have you considered putting components on both sides of the board? That would keep the “user side” clearer. If you are going to be making it yourself (hand soldering), that shouldn’t be an issue.

And as other have already said, move everything a LOT closer together! That first version, you could move the IC a LOT to the left, and move the power plugs in a lot too, then trim the left of the board to match. On the third version, the IC will easily fit on the right if rotated.

[sotpotatis]

Thanks, the tip about components not being close was helpful. I moved them closer which helped. Thanks.